Markets remain weak, banking shares dip further

Weakness in banks and capital goods shares, along with volatility ahead of the F&O expiry took the Sensex to a low of 19,042.

The index finally ended up 10 points at 19,179. Nifty ended up three points at 5,837.

Meanwhile in Asia, Japan's Nikkei share average slipped on Tuesday as weak China manufacturing data heightened concerns over global growth, while investors cashed in some of the recent gains after the yen's slide towards 100 to the dollar stalled.

The benchmark ended 0.3 percent lower at 13,529.65 after hitting its highest closing level since July 2008 on Monday after the Group of 20 leading economies stopped short of criticising Japan's aggressive monetary expansionary policies, which have significantly weakened the yen.

The market may remain volatile this week as traders roll over positions in the futures & options segment from the near month April 2013 series to May 2013 series on Thursday.

Back home, improvement in performance of agriculture and manufacturing sectors is expected to push the economic growth rate to 6.4% in 2013-14 from 5% in the previous fiscal, PM's economic advisory panel said on Tuesday.

"Economy will grow at higher rate from now.

"We projected growth rate of 6.4% in the current fiscal", Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) Chairman C Rangarajan said while releasing the Economic Review for 2012-13 here.

Economic growth rate had slipped to decade's low of 5% in 2012-13 mainly on account of the impact of the global financial woes.

The outlook on the company is negative, said a press release issued by S&P. The stock was down 0.5% at Rs 326.

In its first overseas funding raising in nearly three years, Tata Steel has begun roadshows to raise $750 million in Singapore. Shares of Tata Steel edged up 0.5%.

Shares of fertilisers companies rallied up to 9% in otherwise weak market on hopes of normal monsoon which will boost demand for fertilisers. Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers, National Fertilisers, Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals, Coromandel International and Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation are trading higher in the range of 2-9% on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, BSE will move scrips of 32 companies to the 'trade-to-trade' segment with effect from April 29, 2013.

Some of these companies include Resurgere Mines, Vijay Textiles, Visagar Financial Services and Zenith Health Care.

These stocks will now attract a circuit filter of 5% or lower and no netting off position will be allowed.